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September 29, 2008
At Least She Isn’t Named Monica
I recently ran into a friend from high school. I was delighted to learn that he’d gotten married in the last few years and has an eighteen month old daughter. But when he told me her name, I gasped. I tried to hide it, but he looked at me strangely before showing me pictures of a beautiful little girl– complete with a fair complexion and dainty ears.
It’s just too bad that he had children when he did, and probably has no idea that there’s a whole generation of parents and children who will hear his daughter’s name and picture an ogre happily slurping earwax instead of juice boxes.
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Three years ago in My Tiny Kingdom: Cocoa Puffs and Lady Lumps (in which I explain exactly what “junk in the trunk” is)
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September 29th, 2008 at 9:36 am, Jeni Says:
Heh, here in Scotland there are lots of women and girls with that name, so I’ve lost the Shrek association.
Jeni’s last blog post..It Worked!
September 29th, 2008 at 9:51 am, Monica Says:
At first I was slightly offended, but alas, I have to find my name amusing. The whole scandal is finally getting old. Lately the only jokes I get are from dirty old men.
September 29th, 2008 at 10:19 am, Candi Says:
I like the name Fionna… don’t forget Fionna Apple…
September 29th, 2008 at 10:51 am, Kate McDonald Says:
Oh my! I know how that is…I almost died when I heard the name a couple friend of ours named their adorable little girl. I am afraid to post it in case they read this blog…but if you want to gasp! with me, email me and I will share. Its hideous. I tried not to react, but I need to work on my poker face!
September 29th, 2008 at 10:52 am, Gypsy Soul Says:
oh no! baby naming is a tricky thing. at least Fiona was a likable character…bugs, boogers, earwax and all =)
Gypsy Soul’s last blog post..My Fall List
September 29th, 2008 at 11:05 am, Anne Glamore Says:
I DO like the name. It’s just funny how you name a child Katrina or Monica, never knowing the cultural connotations it may pick up later! I figure by the time she’s in kindergarten no one but my generation will remember!
September 29th, 2008 at 1:30 pm, Jane Says:
I hate when a perfectly good name develops connotations like that. And you can’t help thinking of it - even if you don’t want to.
I hope that it won’t be a big deal for the kid when she grows up.
Jane’s last blog post..Not At All Important
September 29th, 2008 at 1:46 pm, Amy in StL Says:
I also have an acquaintance who named their daughter this. Except this was four or five years ago when Shrek was still hot. Her excuse was that her husbands family had Irish heritage. I always feel that it’s a parent’s duty to minimize childhood name based teasing. Apparently I am alone in this.
September 29th, 2008 at 2:37 pm, Peeved Michelle Says:
The name Fiona is still on my list of potential names for any future baby girls we might have. However, the husband has vetoed it in the past and will likely do so again in the future.
Peeved Michelle’s last blog post..The Worst Interview Question
September 29th, 2008 at 3:02 pm, jean Says:
I love the name Fiona and I completely understand the association of the name to the Shrek. It’s hard work picking a name isn’t it? So many things influence the decision; family, friends, politics, soap stars, movies, actors and actresses etc.
September 29th, 2008 at 4:29 pm, Catherine Says:
I considered Fiona for my daughter. It was Fifi, not the Shrek princess, that turned me off.
Catherine’s last blog post..Woogi World
September 29th, 2008 at 7:43 pm, Headless Mom Says:
Anne,
I tagged you tonight. Come see…
http://headlessfamily5.blogspot.com/2008/09/mememememememe.html
Headless Mom’s last blog post..Mememememememe
September 30th, 2008 at 12:01 am, miss bossy pants Says:
But Fiona from Shrek is such a fabulous character. Who wouldn’t want to be named after her? My parents named me Dusti, and there’s just not much defending that.
miss bossy pants’s last blog post..If I hear (blank) one more time, I’ll scream
September 30th, 2008 at 4:58 am, Loth Says:
Like Jeni said, here in Scotland it’s such a common name, the Shrek connotation just doesn’t occur. If they’d called her Barbie, on the other hand……
September 30th, 2008 at 10:36 am, andrea Says:
I don’t get it–what’s wrong with Monica?
September 30th, 2008 at 11:06 am, Charlie on PA Tpk Says:
a whole generation of parents and children who will hear his daughter’s name and picture an ogre happily slurping earwax instead of juice boxes.
Yeah, but considering the beauty within the character (Cameron Diaz) there’s something positive to think about.
A related post I made some time ago about choosing kids names is here.
Charlie on PA Tpk’s last blog post..Random Tunes
September 30th, 2008 at 2:07 pm, Joy East of theKingdom Says:
Ha! In 1989 I had to change my oldest’s name from “Julie” to “Julia” because my last name, at the time, was BROWN. (Despite the change, it still isn’t lost on the early MTV crowd.)
One of my high school friends named his son “Justin Case” He too looked puzzled when I reflexively laughed. Sounds like one of those split-second decisions…”let’s pick a name….just-in-case!”
Joy East of theKingdom’s last blog post..Have You Forgotten (Repost)
September 30th, 2008 at 2:33 pm, Amanda Says:
I was going to be Amanda Lynne until someone asked my parents if they were going to nickname me fiddle dee dee. And thus I became Amanda Lynette.
Amanda’s last blog post..Sweeter Words Were Never Spoken
September 30th, 2008 at 2:52 pm, Marie Says:
I’ve always liked the name Fiona and I think the Shrek character is a fun character — naming a child is fraught with dangers I’ve discovered. When we had our two children we were worried about picking a first name that when combined with our last name (Lay) wouldn’t end up sounding really sleazy
Marie’s last blog post..Daisy Scouts and Crocodiles
September 30th, 2008 at 4:07 pm, Karin Says:
I think Fiona is a nice name, and so are Monica and Katrina. However, here in the Mighty Kingdom I hear the most awful male names, boys (men) named after the great grandpa and so on…and the parents stick that III or IV to make it look oh so upper.
September 30th, 2008 at 6:10 pm, KLee Says:
I think I can top that. I can’t give you particulars, but I can hint broadly enough that you should get it.
I have a student who has the same, very specific, name as a young murdered beauty queen.
My reaction was: sure it’s a nice name and all, but WHY would people name their child that, knowing where they probably got it from?!?
KLee’s last blog post..The Pendulum Swings
September 30th, 2008 at 11:31 pm, Fiona Says:
Well, my name is Fiona and before Shrek, people would always say “Oh, that’s such a lovely name!” A few would say “Like the singer, Fiona Apple!”. Now most people say “Oh, like Princess Fiona from Shrek!”
But actually, the name is gaining in popularity so I’m sure most people don’t think of her snorting snot when they think of Princess Fiona - they think of her being the awesome kick-ass Princess that she is. Hooray!
October 1st, 2008 at 2:11 pm, Gina Cobb Says:
I must rush to the defense of Fiona. I know a young Fiona who’s a perfectly lovely blond-haired sweetheart at age 10 or 11. I did not even think of Shrek when I heard Fiona’s name.
The name “Greg” was ruined for me for a while when I had two troublemakers in my school named Greg. But one or two fine people can also rebuild a name, so it will all work out.
Gina Cobb’s last blog post..Checking in on Nancy Pelosi’s House Cleaning Project
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:13 pm, Jennifer W. Says:
My daughter’s name is Zoe and someone actually asked me if I got the idea from Sesame Street. I didn’t, but a friend suggested I introduce my kids as Zoe and Elmo from now on…
Jennifer W.’s last blog post..wrestling…
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:14 pm, Jennifer W. Says:
LOVE reading your articles in Lipstick BTW!
Jennifer W.’s last blog post..wrestling…